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50 Years of ERIC
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ERIC Number: EJ895723
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 32
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1529-1944
Accuracy of Health and Wellness Messages Provided by "ChaCha", the Mobile Answers Text Message Service
Bliss, Kadi; Lodyga, Marc; Bochantin, Shelley; Null, Dawn
International Electronic Journal of Health Education, v13 p49-58 2010
A relatively new mobile text message service, "ChaCha," describes itself as "a smart search engine powered by human intelligence." The service claims to provide high-quality, accurate information, yet there is no research published to date substantiating this claim. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which health and wellness-related information disseminated by "ChaCha" is accurate and complete. The study consisted of texting 40 pre-determined health-related questions to "ChaCha," compiling answers, and analyzing answers for accuracy and completeness. Using a Likert-type rubric, accuracy was determined by comparing "ChaCha" responses to three of the most well-known and popular college health textbooks. Results indicated only 12.5% of "ChaCha" responses were rated accurate and complete, while 22.5 % of "ChaCha's" responses rated completely inaccurate/incomplete. In summary, while "ChaCha" provides a fast, efficient method to find answers, the accuracy and completeness of the answers is questionable and not consistent with evidence-based research. Translation to Health Education Practice: Health educators can use the results of this study to alert the public that "ChaCha" is not a reliable source for health and wellness-related information. (Contains 3 tables.)
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. 1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-213-7193; Fax: 703-476-9527; e-mail: info@aahperd.org; Web site: http://www.aahperd.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A